…Woman, 2 children rescued, 10 persons still missing
Following a heavy downpour that occurred on Thursday, no fewer than 21 lives in Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities in Mokwa town of Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger state have been confirmed dead.
Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) Abdullahi Baba-Arah while confirming the incident said, it occurred during a heavy downpour that lasted several hours in the early hours of Thursday.
In a statement, Baba-Arah said the surging flood waters submerged and washed away over 50 residential houses with their occupants.
The Director General while reacting to the disaster on Thursday, said the Agency in collaboration with Mokwa LGA, local divers and very brave volunteers, are currently conducting search and rescue operation to rescue survivors and recover corpses.
He said accordingly that “we are in receipt of report of a deadly flood disaster that ravaged two communities. At the moment, three persons have been rescued, including a woman and her two children and they are currently receiving treatment for various degrees of injury and shock at the Mokwa General Hospital.
“Twenty one corpses have so far been recovered of those who sadly lost their lives in the incident while over 10 persons are still missing as search and rescue operation is still ongoing”.
Also, the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) in a statement by the Head, Press and Public Affairs, Nura Tanko Wakili, expressed shock at the development adding that preliminary reports indicate that the flood swept away properties and left several persons including children unaccounted for.
According to him “the incident has left the entire community devastated and in distress. As we assess the situation and prepare for an appropriate response, we urge residents to remain vigilant and comply with safety directives from relevant emergency and disaster management agencies to prevent further loss”.
